JP6807323B2 - Light detection system and how to use it - Google Patents

Description

Sampling programs are used to monitor important raw materials, intermediate materials, finished products, and processing environments in the food and beverage industry. Similar sampling programs are also used in the medical environment to monitor the environmental surface of the patient environment and the effectiveness of decontaminating instruments and devices used in screening and treatment procedures. Through regular sampling and inspection, quality assurance personnel may detect unwanted substances such as microorganisms at the very beginning and take steps to prevent subsequent contamination of equipment and / or products. it can. Various tests can be performed to detect these unwanted substances. Examples of such tests include chemical residue tests (eg, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence test and protein colorimetric test), culture methods, genetic tests (eg, PCR), immunological tests, and Bioluminescence testing can be mentioned.

Typically, a sampling device or device is used to sample the surface for environmental inspection. Examples of commercially available sampling devices include absorption devices such as sponges and swabs. In addition, certain sampling devices can sample a predetermined amount of liquid sample.

Since ATP is used as the energy "currency" in all metabolic systems, it can indicate the presence of organic or bioorganic residues in the sample. The presence of ATP can be measured using a bioluminescent enzyme assay. For example, the luciferin / luciferase enzyme assay system uses ATP to generate light. This light output can be detected and quantified by a photodetector, such as a photometer. The presence of ATP in the sample can be a direct indicator of the presence of microorganisms (ie, ATP is derived from microorganisms in the sample that do not contain other ATP sources), or ATP is the presence of microorganisms. Can be an indirect indicator of (ie, ATP is derived from plant or animal material and indicates that nutrients that support microbial growth may be present in the sample). In addition, using the presence or absence of ATP in the sample, the food industry, beverage industry, medical industry (eg, environmental surfaces, surgical instruments, endoscopes, and other medical devices), fisheries, And evaluate the effectiveness of the cleaning process in the sanitary industry.

For example, ATP test values systems have been used in the food industry as monitoring tools for over 15 years to audit the effectiveness of hygiene processes. Such a system can detect very small amounts of ATP (eg, 1 femtomol) on various surfaces commonly found in food processing operations that need to be cleaned and disinfected. The detection of the presence of ATP on a surface that is believed to have been purified can indicate a failure of the cleaning and sterilization processes.

In recent years, ATP monitoring tools have been used for similar purposes in clinical applications to monitor the cleanliness of a patient's environment. Currently, the contaminated surface in the hospital is, for example, C.I. Difficile, VRE, MRSA, A.D. There is compelling clinical evidence that it makes a significant contribution to the transmission of infectious and epidemic transmission of Acinetobacter baumannis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), as well as the transmission of norovirus epidemics. Effective infection control programs include systematic monitoring of environmental cleanliness. ATP monitoring can provide, for example, a quantitative measurement system that can be used to support such programs.

In general, the present disclosure provides various embodiments of a photodetector and a system that utilizes the photodetector. The photodetector device can include a housing, a receiver disposed within the housing, and a detector also disposed within the housing. The photodetector device can also include a reflector disposed between the second end of the receiver in the housing and the input surface of the detector. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture of the reflector may be less than or equal to the area of action of the input surface of the detector.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is a photodetecting device comprising a housing extending between a top surface and a bottom surface along a housing axis, wherein the housing includes a port disposed on the top surface. Discloses a photodetector device that includes an opening. The photodetector device also includes a receiver that is disposed within the housing to receive the sample, the receiver includes a receiver body that extends along the optical axis, and the receiver body is a housing. Includes a first end and a second end connected to the opening of the port. The photodetector also includes a detector disposed in the housing along the optical axis and includes an input surface adjacent to the second end of the receiving body, the input surface providing an area of action. Including. Further, the light detection device also includes a reflector disposed in the housing along the optical axis between the second end of the receiver body and the input surface of the detector. An input aperture disposed adjacent to the second end of the receiver body, an output aperture disposed adjacent to the input surface of the detector, and extending between the input aperture and the output aperture. Includes reflective surface. Further, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture of the reflector is less than or equal to the surface area of the working area of the input surface of the detector.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method comprising disposing a bioluminescent sample within a receiving portion of a photodetector, the receiving portion comprising a receiving portion body extending along an optical axis. The receiving body includes a first end and a second end. The method further comprises disposing the detector along the optical axis, the detector comprising an input surface. The method further comprises disposing a reflector between the second end of the receiver body and the input surface of the detector along the optical axis, where the reflector is the second end of the receiver body. It includes an input aperture disposed adjacent to the section, an output aperture disposed adjacent to the input surface of the detector, and a reflective surface extending between the input aperture and the output aperture. The reflector and the input surface of the detector form an optical cavity. The method further comprises directing the light emitted into the optical cavity by the bioluminescent sample through the working area of the input surface of the detector, and the cross-sectional area of the output aperture of the reflector is the working area of the input surface of the detector. Is less than or equal to the surface area of. In addition, the method involves measuring the properties of the emitted light using a detector.

All headings described herein are for the convenience of the reader and are not used to limit the meaning of the text following the headings unless otherwise noted.

The term "provide" and its variants have no limited meaning wherever these terms are used in the specification and claims. Such terms suggest including the steps or elements described, or groups or groups of steps, but do not exclude any other steps or elements, or groups or groups of other steps. It will be understood as suggesting that.

The terms "favorable" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the present disclosure that can provide a certain benefit under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may be preferred in the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the description of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that the other embodiments are not useful and is not intended to exclude the other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure.

In this application, the terms "a", "an", and "the" are not intended to refer to only one entity, but a general category in which specific examples may be used to illustrate it. including. The terms "a", "an", and "the" are used interchangeably with the word "at least one". The phrases "at least one of" and "comprising at least one of" that are followed by the enumeration are any one of the items in the enumeration and the items in the enumeration. Refers to any combination of two or more of them.

The phrases "at least one of" and "comprising at least one of" that are followed by the enumeration are any one of the items in the enumeration and the items in the enumeration. Refers to any combination of two or more of them.

As used herein, the term "or" is generally used in the usual sense, including "and / or", unless the content explicitly indicates otherwise. The use of the term "and / or" in certain parts of the present disclosure is not intended to mean that the use of "or" in other parts cannot mean "and / or".

The term "and / or" means one or all of the listed elements, or any combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

As used herein in connection with a measured quantity, the term "about" is used by those skilled in the art who have taken the measurement and exercised the same level of caution as the accuracy of the object of measurement and the measuring device used. Refers to the variation in the measured quantity expected by. In the present specification, the term "maximum" number (eg, "maximum 50") includes that number (eg, "50").

Also herein, the description of a numerical range by endpoints includes all numbers subsumed within that range, as well as endpoints (eg, 1-5 are 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75). , 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the "forms for carrying out the invention" below. However, the above outline should never be construed as limiting the subject matter of the claimed invention, and the subject matter of the invention is defined only by the accompanying "claims". The scope of claims may be amended in the procedure.

References are made to the accompanying drawings throughout this specification, where similar reference numbers refer to similar elements.
It is a schematic perspective view of one Embodiment of a light detection system. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the photodetector device of the photodetection system of FIG. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the receiving part of the light detection device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the photodetector device of FIG. It is the schematic sectional drawing of the reflector of the light detection device of FIG. It is the schematic sectional drawing of one Embodiment of a sampling apparatus.

In general, the present disclosure provides various embodiments of photodetectors and systems that utilize the photodetectors. The photodetector device can include a housing, a receiver disposed within the housing, and a detector also disposed within the housing. The photodetector device can also include a reflector disposed between the second end of the receiver in the housing and the input surface of the detector. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture of the reflector may be less than or equal to the area of action of the input surface of the detector.

A photodetector can be utilized in any suitable application. For example, a photodetector can be used to detect and measure the light emitted by a bioluminescent sample disposed within the device. The bioluminescent sample can include any suitable sample. In one or more embodiments, the bioluminescent sample is capable of generating light from a luciferin-luciferase enzyme reaction to detect and quantify the presence of ATP in various environmental samples.

The accuracy and repeatability of the ATP detection system available at that time can vary significantly. Such fluctuations are due to the difficulty of obtaining samples repeatedly. In addition, systems that employ the luciferin-luciferase detection chemistry can vary due to the lack of repeatability of the reagent composition preparation method and the form factors employed to provide the reagents for the assay. In addition, the optical properties of the detection system can affect accuracy and repeatability. For example, the detection system can include a reflector, a detector, and a sample chamber or cuvette that houses the sample, which form an optical column that can have different designs, configurations, and alignments. .. In addition, all systems create a user experience that affects not only the ease of use of the system, but the overall performance of the system.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously optimize the capture efficiency of the light emitted by the sample, thereby improving overall sensitivity with respect to accuracy and reproducibility and making the system robust. Can be increased. Further, one or more embodiments are within the housing of the photodetector, which can prevent the sample disposed of the photodetector from leaking into a circuit and / or detector disposed within the housing. Can include a receiving portion arranged in.

1 to 5 are various views of an embodiment of the photodetection system 2. The system 2 can include a photodetector 10 and a sampling device (not shown), for example, a sampling device 80 of FIG. The photodetector 10 may include any suitable photodetector, such as a photometer, that is designed to detect the light emitted by the sample disposed within the device. The photodetector device 10 can be a portable handheld device. In one or more embodiments, the photodetector device 10 can be a benchtop device for use in the laboratory.

The device 10 can include a housing 12. The housing 12 can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes. In addition, the housing can include any suitable material or combination of materials. The housing 12 can extend from the top surface 14 to the bottom surface 16 along the housing axis 4. The housing 12 can also include a handle portion 18 disposed between the top surface 14 and the bottom surface 16. Further, the housing 12 includes several parts that can be attached even in a single integrated housing or using any suitable technique or combination of techniques, such as screws, adhesives, tabs and the like. It may be. In one or more embodiments, the housing 12 can take an ergonomic shape or combination of shapes that allows the user to grip the housing and operate the device 10 with one hand.

The housing 12 can also include a port 20 disposed on the top surface 14 of the housing. The ports 20, although shown as being disposed on the top surface 14, are disposed on any suitable housing surface 12, eg, on the bottom surface 16, the front surface 13 or the rear surface 15 of the housing. You may. The port 20 may be adapted to accept a sampling device (eg, the sampling device 80 of FIG. 6). The port 20 can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes. The port 20 can include an opening 21 formed in the port along the housing axis 4. The opening 21 can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes and can include any suitable size. In one or more embodiments, the opening 21 may be adapted to accept the sample. Further, in one or more embodiments, the opening 21 may be adapted to accept a sampling device, as further described herein.

In one or more embodiments, the housing 12 may also include a door 11 that covers the port 20 to prevent ambient light from entering the housing. Any suitable door 11, eg, the door described in US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 132,790 (Agent Document No. 76072US002), filed on March 13, 2015, which is pending at the same time. It can be used. The door 11 can be attached to the housing 12 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques, such as hinges. Further, the door can be attached to the housing 12 at any suitable position such that the door 11 closes the port 20. In one or more embodiments, the door 11 may be removable from the housing 12 such that the door is a separate component.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the port 20 can also include a ledge and one or more gaskets that can engage the door 11 and allow ambient light when the door is in the closed position. A sealed port can be provided to prevent entry into the housing. The housing 12 can include any kind of additional port, such as a communication port or an electrical port, that provides the ability to connect the device 10 to any suitable external device, such as a power supply, computer, memory device, and the like. ..

The photodetector device 10 can also include one or more controls 22 that are designed to provide an interface for the user to perform various functions with the device. Any suitable control 22 (one or more) can include the device 10. Further, in one or more embodiments, the control 22 can be disposed at any suitable position within or above the housing 12. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the control 22 is arranged so that the user can grip the handle portion 18 of the housing 12 and operate the control using the fingers of the gripping hand. To. Such placement of the control 22 allows the device 10 to be used with one hand. The control 22 may be electrically coupled to any suitable circuit 28 disposed within the housing 12 of the device 10. Such circuits 28 may include any suitable electronic device (one or more), such as one or more controllers, processors, storage devices, power converters, analog / digital converters, GPS components, wireless antennas, and receivers. And so on. The circuit 28 may be electrically coupled to any suitable power source (one or more), such as the battery 26, an external power source, and the like.

The device 10 may also include a display 24 designed to provide a user interface with a circuit 28 disposed within the housing 12 of the device. The display 24 can include any suitable display. In one or more embodiments, the display 24 may be a touch-sensitive display that provides control of the device to the user and also displays information to the user. Any suitable touch-sensitive display 24 can be used with the device 10.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, the receiving portion 30 is arranged in the housing 12 of the device 10. In one or more embodiments, the receiving unit 30 is adapted to receive a sampling device, eg, the sampling device 80 of FIG. Further, in one or more embodiments, the sample can be placed directly on the receiving portion without using a sampling device. In general, the receiving unit 30 may be adapted to guide the sampling device to the housing 12 of the photodetector 10. The receiving portion 30 can include a receiving portion main body 32 extending along the optical axis 31. The receiving body 32 may include a first end 34 and a second end 36 connected to the opening 21 of the port 20 of the housing 12. In one or more embodiments, the receiving body 32 may also include any permeation area 38 disposed adjacent to the second end 36 of the body. As used herein, the phrase "adjacent to the second end" is arranged such that the transmission region 38 is closer to the second end 36 than the first end 34 of the body 32. It means that it has been done. Although shown in FIGS. 2 to 3 as including the transmission region 38, the receiving portion main body 32 may instead include an opening in the second end portion 36 and not include the transmission region. In such an embodiment, the cuvette portion of the sampling apparatus accommodating the sample may be arranged in the receiving portion 30 so that the cuvette portion extends beyond the second main body 32 at the end portion 36. it can.

The receiving portion 30 can be arranged in the housing 12 of the device 10 at any suitable position or in any suitable orientation. In general, the receiving portion 30 is such that the sampling device is appropriately directed to the detector 40 disposed adjacent to the second end portion 36 of the receiving portion main body 32. Is arranged in the housing 12. For example, the receiving portion 30 can be arranged so that the optical axis 31 forms an arbitrary suitable angle with the housing axis 4. For example, the optical axis 31 can be substantially parallel to the housing axis 4. As used herein, the term "substantially parallel to the housing axis" means that the optical axis 31 forms an angle of 10 degrees or less with the housing axis 4. Further, for example, the optical axis 31 can be substantially collinear with the housing axis 4.

In one or more embodiments, the angle between the optical axis 31 and the vertical axis when the device is held in the operating position is selected so that the signal output from the detector during the inspection is maximized. As described above, the receiving portion 30 can be arranged in the housing 12. As used herein, the term "vertical axis" refers to an axis that is aligned with the Earth's gravitational field. In one or more embodiments, the angle between the optical axis 31 and the vertical axis is in the range 0 ° to 45 °. In one or more embodiments, the angle between the optical axis 31 and the vertical axis is in the range 0 ° to 30 °.

Any suitable technique or combination of techniques can be used to connect the first end 34 of the receiving body 32 to the opening 21 of the port 20. In one or more embodiments, the receiving portion body 32 is designed to prevent light or external environmental elements from entering the interior of the housing 12 through any gap or space between the receiving portion and the port 20. The first end 34 can be sealed in the opening 21 of the port 20. In one or more embodiments, the receiving body 32 can be integrated with a port 20, eg, a port, which can be manufactured from a single part or molded into a single part. You may. In one or more embodiments, the port 20 can be manufactured separately from the receiving body 32 so that the receiving portion 30 can be removed, repaired, cleaned, or replaced from the housing.

The receiving body 32 may include any suitable material or combination of materials. In one or more embodiments, the upper region 33 of the receiving body 32 may include a material or a combination of materials such that the upper region is opaque. In one or more embodiments, the upper region 33 can include a reflective or absorptive material or combination of materials. In one or more embodiments, the first portion of the upper region 33 can be reflective and the second portion can be absorptive.

The arbitrary transmission region 38 of the receiving portion main body 32 may include any suitable material or combination of materials such that the transmission region transmits at least a part of the light emitted by the sample disposed in the receiving portion 30. it can. Further, the permeation region 38 may be a permeation cup connected to the second end 36 of the receiving body 32 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques. In one or more embodiments, the material and / or configuration of the transmission region 38 may be adapted to transmit at least one of broadband light, such as ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light. .. In one or more embodiments, the transmission region 38 may be adapted to transmit only narrow band light, eg, ultraviolet light. Further, in one or more embodiments, the transmitted region 38 may be adapted to transmit narrow band visible light, such as blue light. The transmission region 38 is also disposed with the light emitted by the sample disposed in the receiving portion 30 adjacent to the second end 36 of the receiving portion 30, as further described herein. It may be oriented towards the detector 40.

The upper region 33 and the transmission region 38 of the receiving portion main body 32 can be integrated. In one or more embodiments, the upper region 33 may be attached to the transmission region 38 so that the upper region and the transmission region are separately manufactured and attached using any suitable technique or combination of techniques. it can.

In one or more embodiments, the receiving portion body 32 encapsulates the sample disposed in the receiving portion to prevent the sample from leaking from the body into the housing 12 of the device 10. .. Such a leak can cause damage to the internal circuit 28 of the device 10 and the detector 40. In other words, the receiver 30 may be adapted to provide a contamination barrier between the detector 40 and the sample disposed within the receiver.

As described herein, the receiving portion 30 can be permanently disposed within the housing 12. In one or more embodiments, the receiving portion 30 may be disposed within the housing 12 so as to be removable. To remove the receiving portion 30, the housing 12 is one or more portions mounted using any suitable technique to isolate the surface and thereby provide access to the interior of the housing 12. Or parts can be included. Once the interior of the housing 12 is exposed, the receiving portion 30 can be removed and either cleaned, repaired, or replaced.

The receiving portion 30 can also include a shutter 37 disposed in the receiving portion main body 32. The shutter 37 prevents ambient light from entering the detector 40 and potentially damaging the detector in the absence of a sample (eg, disposed in a sampling device). As described above, it can be arranged at an arbitrary suitable position in the receiving portion main body 32. In one or more embodiments, the shutter 37 is prevented from being displaced by the sampling device when the sampling device is inserted into the receiving portion 30 through the opening 21 of the port 20. In one or more embodiments, the shutter 37 is disposed between the first end 34 and the second end 36 of the receiving body 32. The shutter 37 may include any suitable mechanism that is designed to prevent light from being directed to the detector 40 along the receiving body 32. For example, the shutter 37 can include an electric shutter, a mechanical shutter, or an electromechanical shutter. As the sampling device is inserted into the receiving portion body 32, the end portion of the sampling device (for example, the cuvette portion 100 of the sampling device 80 in FIG. 6) presses the shutter 37 to displace the shutter, for example. , It becomes possible to insert the end portion of the sampling device into the transmission region 38 of the main body 32.

The shutter 37 can be attached to the receiving body 32 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques. For example, the hinge 39 can be used to attach the shutter 37 to the receiving portion main body 32. Any suitable hinge can be utilized. In one or more embodiments, the hinge 39 can be spring loaded so that the hinge 39 is urged to a closed position. When the end portion of the sampling device is pressed against the shutter 37, the shutter moves from the closed position to the open position, whereby the end portion of the sampling device is moved to, for example, the transmission region 38 of the receiving portion main body 32. Can be inserted into. The receiving portion main body 32 can include a fitting portion 35 adapted to the shutter 37 when in the open position, for example, when the sampling device is arranged in the receiving portion main body.

The shutter 37 can be electrically coupled to a switch that activates the circuit 28 used to analyze the sample disposed in the receiver 30. Any suitable switch or combination of switches can be used with the shutter 37. In one or more embodiments, the circuit 28 can prevent the detector 40 from being activated when the shutter 37 is in the closed position. Such a configuration can further prevent damage to the detector 40 due to ambient light incident on the housing through the port 20 and the receiving portion 30.

The photodetector device 10 of the photodetection system 2 can also include a detector 40 that includes an input surface 42. The detector 40 can include any suitable detection device or combination of devices, such as a photomultiplier tube, an avalanche detector, a photodiode and the like. The detector 40 is adapted to receive light that is ejected from the sample disposed in the receiving portion 30 and directed through the input surface 42 within the working area of the detector. As used herein, the term "area of action" means an area of input surface 42 that allows light to pass through and be detected by the detector 40. Light transmitted through the input surface 42 outside the working area is not detected by the detector 40. The working area can include any suitable portion (one or more) of the input surface 42. In one or more embodiments, the surface area of the working area can be the same as the surface area of the input surface 42, i.e., the working area and the input surface are coincident. In one or more embodiments, the surface area of the working area may be less than the surface area of the input surface 42. In addition, the working area can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes and can have any suitable dimensions. In one or more embodiments, the area of action can be circular. In such embodiments, the diameter of the working area can be at least about 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm and the like. In one or more embodiments, the diameter of the working area can be about 50 mm or less. In one or more embodiments, the detector 40 can determine the characteristics of the emitted light, such as intensity, luminous flux, wavelength, integrated light, and the like. The device 10 can include any suitable number of detectors 40, such as one, two, three, or more. The detector 40 may be electrically coupled to the circuit 28.

During operation, the photons emitted by the sample collide with or enter the input surface 42 of the detector 40. Photons incident on the input surface 42 within the working area so as to pass through the input surface to the detector can, for example, generate an electrical signal that can be filtered, amplified and transmitted to the circuit 28. The characteristics of the electrical signal provided by the detector 40 (eg, voltage, current, duty cycle) can be related to the number of photons emitted by the sample. The number of photons emitted by the sample can then be proportional to the amount of biological material present in the sample. Therefore, the electrical signal generated by the detector 40 can provide not only the presence of the biological substance in the sample but also an index of the relative amount of the biological substance present in the sample. In one or more embodiments, the light output detected by the detector can be characterized in terms of relative emission (RLU).

The detector 40 can be disposed within the housing 12 of the device 10 at any suitable position. In one or more embodiments, the detector 40 is arranged along the optical axis 31. Further, in one or more embodiments, the detector 40 is arranged along the optical axis 31 so that the center 46 of the input surface 42 is arranged on the optical axis (as shown in FIG. 4). Can be done. The detector 40 can be arranged in the housing 12 so that the input surface 42 forms an arbitrary suitable angle with the optical axis 31. In one or more embodiments, the input surface 42 can be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. As used herein, the phrase "substantially orthogonal" is arranged such that the input surface 42 forms an angle that is at least 85 ° and 95 ° or less with the optical axis 31. Means to be.

The detector 40 can be arranged in the housing 12 so that the input surface 42 of the detector is adjacent to the second end portion 36 of the receiving portion main body 32. When used here, the phrase "adjacent to the second end" is used in the detector 40 so that the input surface can receive the light emitted by the sample disposed in the receiver 30. It means that the input surface 42 of the above is arranged close to the second end portion 36 of the receiving portion main body 32. The input surface 42 of the detector 40 can be arranged at an arbitrary suitable distance from the second end 36 of the receiving portion main body 32. In one or more embodiments, the distance between the input surface 42 and the second end 36 of the receiving body 32 may be adjustable.

The photodetector 10 also includes a reflector 50 disposed in the housing 12 along the optical axis 31 between the second end 36 of the receiver body 32 and the input surface 42 of the detector 40. be able to. The reflector 50 can include an input aperture 56, an output aperture 58, and a reflective surface 51 extending between the input aperture and the output aperture (FIG. 5). The input aperture 56 can be arranged adjacent to the second end portion 36 of the receiving portion main body 32. When used here, the phrase "adjacent to the second end" means that the input aperture 56 is closer to the second end 36 of the receiving body 32 than the input surface 42 of the detector 40. It means that it is arranged. Further, the output aperture 58 can be arranged adjacent to the input surface 42 of the detector 40. When used here, the phrase "adjacent to the input surface" means that the output aperture 58 is located closer to the input surface 42 than the second end 36 of the receiving body 32. means. The reflecting surface 51 can have any suitable cross-sectional shape or combination of shapes, such as a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, etc., in a plane orthogonal to the reflector axis 53. In one or more embodiments, the reflective surface 51 can have a first cross-sectional shape and one or more additional cross-sectional shapes. For example, the reflective surface 51 may have a circular cross-sectional shape at the input aperture 56 and a rectangular cross-sectional shape at the output aperture 58, and the reflective surface may transition from a circular cross-sectional shape to a rectangular cross-sectional shape. May be good.

The input aperture 56 can have any suitable diameter in a plane orthogonal to the reflector axis 53. For example, in one or more embodiments, the diameter of the input aperture 56 can be at least about 5 mm. Further, in one or more embodiments, the diameter of the input aperture 56 can be about 25 mm or less. Generally, the input aperture 56 is sized to accommodate the transmission region 38 of the cuvette and / or receiving body 32 of the sampling device. The input aperture 56 can have any suitable cross-sectional area in a plane orthogonal to the reflector axis 53. For example, in one or more embodiments, the input aperture 56 can have a cross-sectional area of at least 15 mm ² . In one or more embodiments, the input aperture can have a cross-sectional area of 500 mm ² or less.

Further, the output aperture 58 can have an arbitrary suitable diameter in a plane orthogonal to the reflector axis 53. For example, in one or more embodiments, the diameter of the output aperture 58 can be at least about 5 mm. Further, in one or more embodiments, the diameter of the output aperture 58 can be about 50 mm or less. The output aperture 58 can have any suitable cross-sectional area in a plane orthogonal to the reflector axis 53. In one or more embodiments, the output aperture 58 can have a cross-sectional area of at least 15 mm ² . In one or more embodiments, the output aperture 58 can have a cross-sectional area of 2000 mm ² or less.

Generally, the output aperture 58 is sized to accommodate the working area of the input surface 42 of the detector 40. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 is less than or equal to the working area of the input surface 42 of the detector 40. In one or more embodiments, the working area of the input surface 42 of the detector 40 is surrounded by the output aperture 58 of the reflector 50. Further, in one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 may be smaller than the working area of the input surface 42. For example, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 may be about 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1% smaller than the working area of the input surface 42. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 may be smaller in the range of 1-10% than the working area of the input surface 42. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 may be smaller than the working area of the input surface 42 within a range of 1-5%.

The cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 of the reflector 50 can be any suitable dimension with respect to the cross-sectional area of the input aperture 56. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the input aperture 56. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 is at least about 1.5 times the cross-sectional area of the input aperture 56. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 is at least about twice the cross-sectional area of the input aperture 56. In one or more embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the output aperture 58 is at most about 70 times the cross-sectional area of the input aperture 56.

The reflector 50 can have any suitable length measured along the reflector axis 53 between the input aperture 56 and the output aperture 58. In one or more embodiments, the length of the reflector 50 can be at least about 10 mm, at least about 12 mm, at least about 15 mm, at least about 20 mm, at least about 30 mm, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the length of the reflector 50 can be about 50 mm or less.

The reflector 50 can be arranged in any suitable relationship with the working area of the input surface 42 of the detector 40. In one or more embodiments, the areas of action of the input aperture 56, the output aperture 58, and the input surface 42 can be centered along the optical axis 31.

The reflector 50 can be arranged so that the reflecting surface 51 surrounds at least a part of the transmission region 38 of the receiving portion main body 32. In one or more embodiments, the reflector 50 can be arranged so that the reflective surface 51 surrounds the entire transmission region 38. In one or more embodiments, the reflector 50 can be arranged such that the reflective surface 51 surrounds only a portion of the transmission region 38. In one or more embodiments, the reflective surface can be molded such that the reflective surface 51 encloses the transmission region 38 within a volume defined by the input aperture 56, the output aperture 58, and the reflective surface. Further, in one or more embodiments, a portion of the transmission region 38 can be disposed outside this volume. In one or more embodiments, the entire transmission region 38 can be disposed within this volume.

The light cavity 44 can be formed together with the reflection surface 51 and the input surface 42 of the detector 40. The optical cavity 44 can be hollow. In one or more embodiments, the optical cavity 44 may be a solid light guide, and the transmission region 38 of the receiving body 32 is disposed within the solid light guide.

The reflector 50 is adapted so that any suitable proportion of light emitted into the optical cavity 44 by the sample disposed in the receiving portion 30 is directed through the input surface 42 of the detector 40 within the working area. You may. As used herein, the phrase "through the input surface 42 of the detector 40" means that the light incident on the input surface of the detector in the working area and the normal vector to the input surface are the light receiving angles of the detector. It means that the angle is within. The light receiving angle of the detector 40 is an angle at which light incident on the input surface 42 in the working area is directed and detected in the detector through the input surface. In other words, the incident light on the input surface 42 of the detector 40, which is reflected by the input surface 42 and is not directed into the detector 40, is outside the light receiving angle of the detector. In one or more embodiments, at least 15% of the light emitted by the sample into the optical cavity 44 is directed through the input surface 42 of the detector 40. In one or more embodiments, at least 20% of the light emitted by the sample into the optical cavity 44 is directed through the input surface 42 of the detector 40. In one or more embodiments, at least 50% of the light emitted by the sample into the optical cavity 44 is directed through the input surface 42 of the detector 40.

The reflective surface 51 can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes such that the reflector 50 directs at least a portion of the emitted light through the input surface 42 within the working area. In general, a reflector having a parabolic shape rotated around a point light source, for example, a composite parabolic concentrator, uses the light emitted by the point light source arranged at the focal point of the reflector as parallel rays. It will reorient to the output aperture of the reflector. With reference to a sample device as described herein, light is emitted by the sample through the transmission region 38 of the receiving body 32, thereby providing a larger radiation surface than a point light source. In one or more embodiments, the reflective surface 51 can be substantially cylindrical. In other words, the reflecting surface 51 can be formed so as to have a side surface substantially parallel to the central axis 53 of the reflector (FIG. 5). In one or more embodiments, the reflective surface 51 can take a parabolic shape, for example, rotating a parabolic curve around the reflector axis 53 to provide a parabolic reflector. it can.

The reflective surface 51 can include a first portion 52 having a first radius of curvature 61, as shown in FIG. In one or more embodiments, the entire reflective surface 51 has a first radius of curvature 61. As shown in FIG. 5, the first radius of curvature 61 is centered on the center 60. The center 60 of the first radius of curvature 61 can be arranged at any suitable position with respect to the reflector 50. For example, in one or more embodiments, the center 60 of the first radius of curvature 61 can be disposed on the plane 59 defined by the output aperture 58 of the reflector 50. In one or more embodiments, the center 60 of the first radius of curvature 61 can be arranged below the plane 59, i.e., the plane 59 is between the center 60 of the reflector 50 and the input aperture 56. The center 60 can be arranged so as to be.

In one or more embodiments, the reflective surface 51 of the reflector 50 can include any suitable number of radii of curvature. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the reflective surface 51 includes a second portion 54 having a second radius of curvature 63 centered on the center 62. The second radius of curvature 63 can be the same as the first radius of curvature 61. In one or more embodiments, the second radius of curvature 63 is different from the first radius of curvature 61. The center 62 of the second radius of curvature 63 can be arranged at any suitable position with respect to the reflector 50. For example, in one or more embodiments, a second radius of curvature can be placed on the plane 59. In one or more embodiments, the center 62 of the second radius of curvature 63 can be located below the plane 59, i.e., the plane 59 is between the center 62 and the input aperture 56 of the reflector 50. The center 62 of the second radius of curvature 63 can be arranged as described above. In one or more embodiments, the centers 60, 62 can be arranged on the plane 59. In one or more embodiments, one or both of the centers 60, 62 can be disposed below the plane 59.

Although the reflector 50 has been represented assuming that the first portion 52 and the second portion 54 have different radii of curvature, the reflective surface 51 can include three or more portions having different radii of curvature. Further, in one or more embodiments, a suitable number of portions of the reflective surface 51 of the reflector 50 may include a first radius of curvature 61 or a second radius of curvature 63.

The first radius of curvature 61 and the second radius of curvature 63 can each include any suitable length. In one or more embodiments, one or both of the first radius of curvature 61 and the second radius of curvature 63 are at least about 50 mm, 55 mm, 60 mm, 65 mm, 70 mm, 100 mm, 200 mm, 500 mm, 600 mm, 700 mm, and the like. Can have a radius. Further, in one or more embodiments, one or both of the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature 6163 can have a radius of about 800 mm or less.

The reflector 50 can be arranged at any suitable position in the housing 12 of the device 10. In one or more embodiments, the reflector 50 can be arranged along the optical axis 31. Further, in one or more embodiments, the reflector axis 53 can be substantially aligned with the optical axis 31. In one or more embodiments, the reflector axis 53 can be collinear with the optical axis 31 so that the reflector 50 is centered along the optical axis.

The first portion 52 having a first radius of curvature 61 can be disposed in any suitable relationship with respect to the second portion 54 having a second radius of curvature 63. In one or more embodiments, the first portion 52 is adjacent to the second portion 54. In one or more embodiments, a portion of the first portion 52 intersects or overlaps a portion of the second portion 54. In one or more embodiments, the first portion 52 is formed into the second portion 54 so that the curvature of the reflective surface 51 is continuous, i.e., the first portion does not bend between the two portions. It is adjacent to the second portion 54 so as to transition. In one or more embodiments, a flat portion can be disposed between the first portion 52 and the second portion 54. Further, in one or more embodiments, ridges, steps or facets can be disposed between the first portion 52 and the second portion 54.

In one or more embodiments, the reflective surface 51 of the reflector 50 is the input surface of the detector 40 within the working area after the light emitted by the sample into the optical cavity 44 has been incident on the reflective surface any suitable number of times. It may be oriented through 42. For example, in one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the light emitted into the optical cavity 44 is reflected through the input surface 42 within the working area, eg, 10 times or less, after being reflected by the reflective surface 51 of the reflector 50. Be done. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the light emitted into the light cavity 44 is reflected by the reflector 51 of the reflector 50 at least once and then directed through the input surface 42 within the working area. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the light emitted into the light cavity 44 is directed through the input surface 42 within the working area without being reflected by the reflecting surface 51 or incident on the reflecting surface 51. Can be attached. Any suitable proportion of the light emitted into the optical cavity 44 after the reflective surface 51 has reflected at most once, i.e. at most one reflection, eg, at least 10%, at least 20%. , At least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70% can be oriented through the input surface 42 within the working area. Using any suitable technique or combination of techniques, the proportion of light emitted by the sample into the optical cavity 44 that is directed through the input surface 42 within the working area after being reflected by the reflecting surface 51 at least once. The reflector and the light cavity 44 can be modeled using any suitable ray tracing software program, such as TracePro (Lambda Research Corporation (Littleton, Mass)).

The reflector 50 can include any suitable material or combination of materials such that the reflector is reflective, such as a metal, a polymer, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the reflector 50 includes a multilayer optical film. Any suitable multilayer optical film or combination of films, such as the Vikuti® (Registered Trademark) Enhanced Specular Reflector Film (ESR) (commercially available from 3M Company (St. Paul, MN)), can be utilized. The multilayer optical film can be arranged on the molded base material to provide the reflecting surface 51 of the reflector 50. In one or more embodiments, the multilayer optical film can be molded into a desired shape or combination of shapes to provide the reflective surface 51. For example, in one or more embodiments, the multilayer optical film can be thermoformed to provide the reflective surface 51 with the desired shape.

The reflective surface 51 can provide any suitable reflective property. For example, at least a portion of the reflective surface 51 can be a specular reflective surface. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the reflective surface 51 can be a diffuse reflective surface. Therefore, the reflector 50 can be a specular reflector, a diffuse reflector, or a combined mirror / diffuse reflector.

The device 10 can also include any additional optical element (one or more) that is designed to improve the accuracy of the detector 40. For example, in one or more embodiments, a mask (not shown) can be placed adjacent to the input surface 42 of the detector 40. As used herein, the phrase "placed adjacent to the input surface" means that the mask is in close proximity to the input surface 42 of the detector 40 and then to the input aperture 56 of the reflector 50. It means that it is arranged. The mask can be a separate element disposed adjacent to the input surface 42 of the detector 40. In one or more embodiments, the mask can be formed so that the mask is integral with the reflector 50. In one or more embodiments, the mask can be placed on the input surface 42. In such an embodiment, the mask can be attached to the input surface 42 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques. In the embodiment in which the mask is part of the reflector 50, the mask is attached to the input surface 42 of the detector 40 to seal the reflector against the input surface, whereby the sample is ejected into the light cavity 44. It is possible to prevent light from passing through the cavity before passing through the input surface 42. In embodiments that do not include a mask, the reflector 50 is placed on the input surface 42 of the light conductor using any suitable technique or combination of techniques so that the light emitted into the optical cavity 44 does not flow out of the cavity. It can be attached, for example, the optical cavity is sealed to prevent light leakage.

The reflector 50 can be arranged in any suitable relationship with respect to the detector 40. For example, the output aperture 58 of the reflector 50 is separated from the input surface 42 of the detector 40 by any suitable distance, for example, 30 mm or less, 25 mm or less, 20 mm or less, 10 mm or less, more than 5 mm, 1 mm or less, 5 mm or less. Can be placed. In one or more embodiments, a portion of the reflector 50 in the output aperture 58 may be in contact with the input surface 42 of the detector 40. In addition, the reflector 50 can be connected to the detector 40 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques. For example, the reflector 50 can include a ledge 66 that can come into contact with one or both of the input surface 42 and both sides of the detector 40 (FIG. 4). In one or more embodiments, the reflector 50 and the detector 40 are held in place using any suitable technique or combination of techniques so that the reflector does not move relative to the detector. Can be done.

The device 10 can also include a light source 70 that is designed to emit light into the light cavity 44. In one or more embodiments, the light source 70 can be used as a reference light source that can assist in determining the analog count level of the detector 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the reference light from the light source 70 can be directed to the optical cavity 44 through the opening formed in the reflector 50. The opening can have any suitable shape and can have any suitable size. In one or more embodiments, the opening can be a pinhole opening. The light source 70 may be electrically coupled to a circuit 28 disposed within the housing 12 of the device 10. In one or more embodiments, the device 10 can include a feedback loop that can be used to control the light source 70 based on the output of the detector 40 in response to the light source. The light source 70 can include any suitable light source, such as one or more light emitting diodes.

The light source 70 can be arranged so that the emission axis 72 of the light source forms an arbitrary suitable angle with the optical axis 31. As used herein, the term "injection axis" refers to the axis of a light source that emits maximum intensity light along it. In one or more embodiments, the emission axis 72 of the light source 70 intersects the center 46 of the working area of the input surface 42 of the detector 40. Further, in one or more embodiments, the injection axis 72 is not parallel to the optical axis 31. In one or more embodiments, a diffuser (not shown) is disposed between the light source 70 and the input surface 42 of the detector 40 so that the light distribution from the light source to the light cavity 44 is more uniform. be able to.

In one or more embodiments, a sample of the material to be inspected can be placed directly on the receiving section 30. In one or more embodiments, the sample can be placed in the sampling device provided in the receiving portion 30. Any suitable sampling device, for example, the sampling device described in PCT International Publication No. 2014/007846 and US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0329081, can be used with System 2. For example, FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the sampling device 80. The sampling device 80 includes a sampling device 81 and a container 90. The sampling device 81 can include any suitable sampling device. The sampling device 81 includes a handle portion 82 including a handle 84 and a sampling portion 88. The sampling unit 88 can be coupled to the handling unit 82 via any stem 86. The sampling device 81 can be molded and sized for acceptance in the container 90. The handling unit 82 can include any suitable material or combination of materials and can function as a position where the sampling device 81 can be gripped and / or operated during use. The handle 84 can be molded and / or textured so that the sampling device 81 can be easily gripped manually or mechanically.

The sampling unit 88 can include any suitable material or combination of materials capable of obtaining and holding the sample from the sample source. In one or more embodiments, the sampling unit is an environmental surface, such as a surface found in a food processing plant or food processing facility, and a high frequency contact surface in a hospital or operating room, and a surgical instrument, within a rigid endoscope. Samples collected from surfaces found in hospitals, including surfaces of medical devices including endoscopes and flexible endoscopes, can be retained. In one or more embodiments, the sampling unit 88 is viewed from the inner surface of a liquid sample, eg, a liquid used in a food processing operation including a water quality test, a lumen surgical instrument and a cannula surgical instrument, and other medical devices. It can retain sterile water used to collect samples, as well as water used in medical procedures such as dialysis and endoscopy. In one or more embodiments, the sampling device 81 includes, for example, a sampling unit 88 that includes a coating such that the coating comes into contact with the sample when the device is disposed in the sample or comes into contact with the sample. be able to. Any suitable coating or combination of coatings can be included with the sampling device 81.

The container 90 can include at least one wall 91 and an opening 93 that is adapted to receive the sampling device 81. In one or more embodiments, the container 90 may be adapted to accommodate the entire sampling device 81. The container 90 can also include a photodetector, eg, a cuvette 100 that is operably coupled to the photodetector 10. In one or more embodiments, the cuvette section 100 is placed in the photodetector device by placing the cuvette section of the container 90 or the entire container into an invitation-type receiving compartment of the photodetector device, eg, the receiving section 30 of the system 2. Combined operably.

The cuvette section 100 can include any suitable material or combination of materials. In one or more embodiments, the cuvette section 90 allows transmission of light emitted as a product of the catalytic reaction within the sampling device 81, eg, light emitted as a product of the catalytic reaction by the luciferase enzyme. Includes a material or combination of materials that provides a light transmissive region.

The reagent composition 96 can be arranged in the container 90. The reagent composition 96 can be a liquid reagent, a gaseous reagent or a solid reagent. The reagent composition 96 can include any suitable reagent or combination of reagents, such as luciferin / luciferase ATP detection reagent, ninhydrin, and bicinchoninic acid protein detection reagent.

The reagent 96 can be disposed in the closed compartment 94 of the container 90 formed by the fragile wall 92 disposed adjacent to the cuvette portion 100. The fragile wall 92 can include any suitable material or combination of materials. In one or more embodiments, the fragile wall 92 may be made of a water resistant material, such as a plastic film, metal leaf, or metal coated plastic film. The fragile wall 92 can be attached to the wall 91 of the cuvette portion 100 and / or the container 90 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques, such as adhesives, heat seals, sonic welds, and the like.

In general, for example, any suitable technique or combination of techniques can be used to use a photodetection system to detect the presence or absence of ATP in a liquid sample. The presence of ATP in the sample can indicate the possibility of the presence of organic residues and / or microorganisms (eg, pathogenic microorganisms) in the sample. In one or more embodiments, the amount of ATP in the sample can be an indicator of the relative number of microorganisms in the sample.

For example, a sampling device 80 can be used to obtain a liquid sample having a predetermined volume. A sampling device 81 can be used to contact a predetermined volume of sample with the liquid reagent composition 96 in container 90 to form a reaction mixture. The light emitted from the reaction mixture can then be detected using a photodetector, eg, a photodetector, together with a photodetector.

In one or more embodiments, the sampling device 80 can be utilized to detect residues on the surface, such as ATP present in liquid and / or solid residues found on solid surfaces. .. For example, the sampling device 80 can be utilized to detect the effectiveness of the process used to clean the surface. In many environments (eg food processing facilities, hospitals), the cleaning process should substantially reduce or eliminate detectable ATP from the surface being inspected. Suitable samples that can be inspected using the sampling device 80 are, but are not limited to, treatment equipment (eg, food treatment surfaces, tubes, drains, conveyors, storage containers), environmental surfaces (eg, sinks). , Top plates, drawers, floors, walls, ceilings, doors, bed rails, linens, computer touch screens, keyboards, monitors), and medical equipment or devices (eg endoscopes, retractors, trocars, surgical scalpels, trays). ). Such samples may contain liquid and / or solid residues present on the surface.

In one or more embodiments, the sampling device 81 can be used to obtain a sample. The sampling device 81 is inserted into the container 90. Using manual or mechanical pressure on the handle 84 of the sampling device 81, the sampling section 88 is urged towards the compartment 94 until the fragile wall 92 is torn, and the sample is sampled, as shown in FIG. A liquid sample (not shown) associated with the sampling unit 88 is brought into contact with the reagent composition 96. The sampling device 81 and the container 90 are arranged at operating positions with respect to each other. In one or more embodiments, the sampling device 81 is fully inserted into the container 90 and the sampling section 88 of the sampling device comes into contact with the liquid reagent composition 96.

By arranging the sampling device 80 in the receiving portion 30, the bioluminescent sample can be arranged in the receiving portion 30 of the photodetector 10. The door 11 can be opened and the sampling device can be inserted into the opening 21 of the port 20 of the housing 12 of the detection device 10. The sampling device 80 receives the sampling device 80 until at least a part of the cuvette 100 is disposed in the optical cavity 44, either on the receiving portion 30 itself or in an arbitrary transmission region 38 of the receiving portion main body 32. Can be inserted into. The cuvette portion 100 can be operably coupled to the photodetector 10 before or after the formation of the reaction mixture. As used herein, the term "operably coupled" means that the cuvette portion 100 housings the cuvette portion 100 so that at least a portion of the light that the sample can emit can be directed through the input surface 42 within the working area. It means that it is arranged in 12. In one or more embodiments, the cuvette 100 is operably coupled to the photodetector 10 after the reaction mixture has been formed. In one or more embodiments, the cuvette unit 100 is provided with any suitable time length, eg, at least 1 second, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, to provide an optical signal. It is operably coupled to the photodetector for 60 seconds, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, and so on.

After arranging the sampling device 80 in the receiving section 30 of the photodetector device 10 so that the cuvette section 100 of the sampling device is operably coupled to the device, the light emission is monitored by the device. At least a portion of the light that the sample can emit can be transmitted through the optical cavity 44. The first portion of this transmitted light can be directed through the input surface 42 of the detector 40 within the working area without being reflected by the reflector 50 or absorbed by the sample. A second portion of light emitted into the optical cavity 44 can be directed through the input surface 42 within the working area by being reflected by the reflective surface 51 of the reflector 50.

The detector 40 can be used to measure one or more properties of the emitted light. For example, the detector 40 can be used to detect one or more photons that the sample disposed in the receiving portion 30 could emit. In one or more embodiments, the detection device 10 can detect the light emitted from the reaction mixture and measure a selected amount (eg, relative or absolute amount of ATP present in the sample). This light output can be quantified by the photodetector device 10. The presence of ATP in the sample can be a direct indicator of the presence of microorganisms (ie, ATP is derived from microorganisms in the sample that do not contain other ATP sources), or ATP is the presence of microorganisms. Can be an indirect indicator of (ie, ATP is derived from plant or animal material and indicates that nutrients that support the growth of microorganisms may be present in the sample).

When measuring the light emitted by a sample using a photodetector (eg, photodetector 10), the angle at which the device is held or placed during detection of the emitted light affects the accuracy of the device. obtain. When a sample is measured using an instrument that is not held at an appropriate angle, the difference between the measured value and the real value can exceed 20%. This is because the sample to be measured is typically a small volume (less than 1 mL) placed in the cuvette section of the sampling device (eg, the cuvette section 100 of the device 80), which can have a measurable meniscus. ) Can be a liquid sample. When the instrument is held at an improper angle, at least a portion of the sample is placed outside the optical cavity of the system's detection device (eg, the optical cavity 44 of device 10), thereby allowing light into the optical cavity. The volume of the sample that can be ejected is reduced, which can lead to false signals. The total bioluminescent radiance is emitted from both the bulk solution and the sampling section of the sampling device (eg, the sampling section 88 of the device 81). This slope can affect the radiance of the sample being analyzed.

In one or more embodiments, the detection device 10 can also include tilt detection components (not shown) capable of measuring the tilt angle of the detection device 10 in one or more embodiments. As used herein, the term "tilt angle" means the angle formed between the housing axis 4 and the vertical axis. As used herein, the term "vertical axis" refers to an axis that is aligned with the Earth's gravitational field. The tilt detection component can provide feedback to the user when the device 10 is located within the appropriate tilt angle and / or when the device is located at the inappropriate tilt angle. Any suitable technique or combination of techniques can be used to provide such feedback to the user, eg, feedback can be provided as a read on the display 24, or the device 10 is tactile. It may be designed to provide feedback to the user. For example, an on-screen message on the display 24 alerts the user when the instrument is not held at the correct tilt angle and / or when the instrument is held at the correct tilt angle while the sample detects the emitted light. Alternatively, the device 10 can provide haptic feedback. The user can be provided with an on-screen instruction to reorient the device 10 so that the device 10 is located within the correct tilt angle. The tilt detection component can be used to indicate to the user any suitable tilt angle or range of tilt angles. In one or more embodiments, the desired tilt angle can be determined, for example, by the amount of sample disposed in the housing and by the optical properties and configuration of the detector in the housing. In general, the tilt angle can be selected for the most accurate detection of one or more properties of the sample disposed in the housing.

The tilt detection component can include any suitable circuit or element capable of determining the orientation of the device 10 with respect to the vertical axis. For example, in one or more embodiments, the tilt angle sampled by the microprocessor can be measured by a tilt sensor, the microprocessor being disposed either inside the housing 12 of the device 10 or outside the housing 10. , Wirelessly coupled to the tilt sensor or coupled via a wired coupling. Before or during the analysis of the sample, the data provided by the tilt sensor can be averaged or normalized to obtain a stable approximation of the tilt angle of the device 10. The tilt detection component can be calibrated to have any suitable accuracy. For example, in one or more embodiments, the tilt detection component can be calibrated to provide, for example, a 20% tilt angle measurement angle.

Although not desired to be limited by any particular theory, the sample to be measured can typically be a small volume (less than 1 mL) of liquid sample placed in the cuvette section of the sampling device. Since the sample can have a measurable meniscus, measuring the sample with an instrument that is not held at an appropriate angle can result in a difference of 20% over the real value. When the device is held at an improper angle, at least a portion of the sample is placed outside the optical cavity of the system's detection device, which directs light to the detector, thereby emitting light into the optical cavity. The volume of sample that can be made is reduced, and therefore false signals can occur. Therefore, this slope can affect the radiance of the sample being analyzed.

In one or more embodiments, tilt detection components can also be utilized to measure customer usage behavior and misuse events, which provide training and guidance in predicting the desired service interval. Can be useful in some cases. Further, one or more embodiments of the tilt detection component can perform real-time mathematical normalization of RLU data based on the measured tilt angle. This algorithm can be constrained by the actual tilt angle limit. For example, if the measured angle is greater than 90 degrees, an immediate warning will be prompted and the normalization algorithm will be suppressed. In one or more embodiments, providing feedback on the tilt angle to the user allows the user to maintain the same tilt angle across multiple samples, thereby each sampling cycle and sample. It is possible to enable more consistent reading for each.

Any suitable technique or combination of techniques can be utilized to maintain the photodetector device 10 at a position with an appropriate tilt angle. For example, in one or more embodiments, the device is supported on the housing 12 of the device 10 so that the device can be placed on the work surface so that the device can be placed on the work surface at a desired tilt angle. Members (one or more) can be connected. Any suitable support member (one or more), eg, described in co-pending US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 132,794 (Agent Document No. 76071US002), filed March 13, 2015. The support member provided can be connected to the housing 12.

All references and publications cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, unless they may be in direct conflict with this disclosure. We have reviewed exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and referred to possible variations within the scope of the present disclosure. These and other modifications and modifications of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Will be understood. Therefore, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims described below.

Claims (7)

A housing extending between an upper surface and a bottom surface along a housing axis, wherein the housing includes a port disposed on the upper surface, and the port includes an opening.
A receiving portion that is disposed in the housing and is designed to receive a sample, the receiving portion includes a receiving portion main body extending along an optical axis, and the receiving portion main body is a receiving portion of the housing. A receiving portion, including a first end and a second end connected to the opening of the port.
A detector disposed in the housing along the optical axis and including an input surface adjacent to the second end of the receiving body, wherein the input surface includes a working area. When,
A reflector disposed in the housing between the second end of the receiving portion main body and the input surface of the detector along the optical axis, and is the said of the receiving portion main body. An input aperture disposed adjacent to the second end, an output aperture disposed adjacent to the input surface of the detector, and a reflection extending between the input aperture and the output aperture. With a reflector, including a surface,
The cross-sectional area of the output aperture of the reflector is at least 2 times the cross-sectional area of the input aperture, and is 70 times or less of the cross-sectional area of the input aperture, an optical detection device. The reflective surface of the reflector comprises a first portion having a first radius of curvature.
The reflective surface of the reflector further includes a second portion having a second radius of curvature that is different from the first radius of curvature.
In each of the center of the first radius of curvature and the center of the second radius of curvature, the plane defined by the output aperture of the reflector is the center of the first radius of curvature and the second curvature. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is located either on or below the plane so that it is between one or both of the centers of curvature and the input aperture of the reflector. .. The reflecting surface of the reflector and the input surface of the detector form an optical cavity.
The receiving portion further includes a transmission region adjacent to the second end portion of the receiving portion main body, and at least a part of the transmission region is arranged in the optical cavity.
The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the permeation region comprises a permeation cup connected to the second end of the receiving body. Further equipped with a light source that emits light into the optical cavity,
The device of claim 3, wherein the injection axis of the light source intersects the center of the working area of the input surface of the detector. The device of claim 4, wherein the injection axis of the light source is not parallel to the optical axis. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the receiving portion provides a contamination barrier between the detector and a sample disposed in the receiving portion. A photodetection system comprising a sampling device and the photodetector according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
The sampling device is
A container with an opening and a cuvette that is operably coupled to the detector.
A sampling device including a sampling unit, wherein the sampling unit includes a sampling device that acquires the sample and holds it in a releasable manner.
A photodetection system in which the receiving portion receives the sampling device.

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